Photos: Oscar Pistorius’ brainy blonde girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, was a model, activist and law school graduate

Juanita Ng, Vancouver Sun02.15.2013

Freckled, blue-eyed Reeva Steenkamp was a brainy blonde who died Thursday at the home of her boyfriend, double-amputee Olympian and Paralympian Oscar Pistorius. Keep clicking to see photos of Reeva Steenkamp, the law school graduate, successful model and activist.Ice Model Management
/ AP

Reeva Steenkamp was a 29-year-old law school graduate and successful model whose face had graced numerous magazine covers.'
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Steenkamp was born in Cape Town on Aug. 19, 1983. She received a law degree from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, but began modelling professionally shortly afterward.'
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Steenkamp was born into a family of horse trainers; her father is related to famous South African trainers, the Amos brothers.'
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She moved to Johannesburg six years ago after her modelling career took off.'
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Steenkamp's voluptuous figure and stunning looks made her a favourite with clients.'
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The five-foot-seven bombshell has starred in advertising campaigns for clients such as Avon South Africa, Clover, FHM, Toyota and clothing brand Zui.'
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She and Olympic “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius had been dating for a few months. Her body was found at Pistorius’ gated home in Pretoria, the capital. Steenkamp had been shot four times in the early hours of Valentine’s Day.'
/ www.timeslive.co.za

“She was talented and was starting to succeed and get a bit of a following. The girl was really going places,” said Hagen Engler, a former editor for South African FHM.'
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Steenkamp was also one of men’s magazine FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World for two years running, as well as a presenter for FashionTV in South Africa.'
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Her next step was reality TV: She was set to be the lead in the television show Tropika Island of Treasure 5, filmed in Jamaica.'
/ lifeissavage.com

The show will premiere as planned this Saturday. Samantha Moon, the show’s creator said: “It’s a tricky situation because the show was filmed in Jamaica last year and nobody could have ever predicted this. So the money, production costs and TV scheduling time had all been finalized prior to this horrendous incident. It will no doubt be extremely hard for Steenkamp’s close friends and family to see her in the show for as long as she was in it.”'
/ fhm.co.za

When she had free time, Steenkamp loved cooking, reading and spending time with her family, according to her profile on the Tropika website.'
/ fhm.co.za

Steenkamp kept in touch with her fans regularly via Twitter, often tweeting about Pistorius, whom she called her “boo.”
“It’s a beautiful day! Make things happen. Starting my day off with a yummy healthy shake from my boo :) #healthyliving,” she tweeted.
“Excited for a chilled Saturday evening in with good food, movies, popcorn, frozen yoghurt & my boo. #happiness #love #chilling #weekend,” she said in another tweet.
And chillingly, a tweet about Valentine’s Day just one day before her death: “What do you have up your sleeve for love tomorrow? It should be a day of love for everyone. May it be blessed.”'
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She also used Twitter to speak out against violence against women. Last week, she tweeted: “I woke up in a happy safe home this morning. Not everyone did. Speak out against the rape of individuals.”'
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Shashi Naidoo of Alushi model agency in Johannesburg, which represented Steenkamp, said: "It's still a big shock to us. I've known Reeva for years and she was an incredible, beautiful soul. It's shocking. An amazing girl has gone too soon."'
/ lifeissavage.com

Steenkamp was scheduled to give a motivational speech to students in Johannesburg on Thursday morning. “It was about empowerment and inspiration and what inspires you and how to follow your dreams,” Steenkamp’s publicist Sarit Tomlinson told the Associated Press.'
/ www.welt.de

Capacity Relations, the agency that represents Steenkamp, said on Twitter: "She was the kindest, sweetest human being; an angel on earth and will be sorely missed.”'
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Steenkamp said in a recent interview that Pistorius, a 26-year-old double amputee, was “an impeccable man who always has her best interests at heart.” Pistorius won two gold medals and one silver at the London Paralympics last year.'
/ www.gentside.com

Police came to Pistorius’s home at Silver Woods Country Estate, outside Pretoria, after neighbours reported hearing screams and gunshots early Thursday. Inside, police found the body of Reeva Steenkamp, shot four times in the head and hand. A 9mm revolver which was registered to Pistorius was found near the scene.LUCKY NXUMALO
/ AFP/Getty Images

Initial reports had Pistorius telling police he’d believed Steenkamp was an intruder. Police spokesman Denise Beukes said: “There was no sign of forced entry or persons who weren't supposed to be there at this stage. There were only two people on the premises: the resident and the deceased.”WALDO SWIEGERS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Police had been called to Pistorius’s home previously in relation to “allegations of a domestic nature,” Beukes added.Uncredited
/ AP

Athlete Oscar Pistorius weeps in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, at his bail hearing in the murder case of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Following the hearing, Pistorius’s family and his London management company issued a statement calling into question the criminal charge the 26-year-old athlete faces. “The alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms,” the statement read.Antoine de Ras
/ AP

South Africa’s Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius leaves the court room after his hearing on charge of murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day, yesterday, on February 15, 2013 at the Magistrate Court in Pretoria. South African prosecutors will argue that Pistorius is guilty of premeditated murder in Steenkamp’s death, a charge which could carry a life sentence.STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN
/ AFP/Getty Images

Related

Freckled, green-eyed Reeva Steenkamp was a brainy blonde who died Thursday at the home of her boyfriend, double-amputee Olympian and Paralympian Oscar Pistorius. In addition to being a law school graduate, Steenkamp was a successful model and an activist committed to empowering women.

Police have arrested Pistorius on a charge of murder and said he will appear in court Friday.

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